Title: Analiese Rising
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Published: January 8, 2019
Pages: 350
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy
Source: ARC
When a stranger gives Analiese Jordan a list of names before he dies, the last thing she expects to see is her own on it. Not. Cool. Her search for answers leads to the man’s grandson, Marek, who has dangerous secrets of his own. Both are determined to unlock the mystery of the list.
But the truth is deadly. Analiese is a descendant of the God of Death, known as a Riser, with the power to raise the dead and control them. Finding out she has hidden powers? Cool. Finding out she turns corpses into killers? No, thank you.
Now the trail plants her and Marek in the middle of a war between gods who apparently want to raise an army of the Risen, and Analiese must figure out how to save the world—from herself.
But the truth is deadly. Analiese is a descendant of the God of Death, known as a Riser, with the power to raise the dead and control them. Finding out she has hidden powers? Cool. Finding out she turns corpses into killers? No, thank you.
Now the trail plants her and Marek in the middle of a war between gods who apparently want to raise an army of the Risen, and Analiese must figure out how to save the world—from herself.
MY REVIEW
This review MAY contain SPOILERS. Read at your own risk.I received an Advance Reader Copy at no cost from the publisher/author.
This was such an exciting book! I absolutely loved Brenda Drake's Library Jumpers series so I knew that I had to pick up this book.
I absolutely adored this unique take on mythology. I think that the premise for this book is incredibly original and thought-provoking. The plotting was delightful. The suspense and the mystery that was unfolding as the story progressed was amazing. It definitely kept my interest. I couldn't wait to see what was happening next.
The world building in this book was excellent. Analiese and Marek visit several European countries on their journey. I felt very much in the story because of the vivid descriptions and flawless detail of the well-known places in the book.
The romance in the book was adorable. I loved the slow-burn romance. Analiese and Marek definitely had chemistry, but it wasn't over the top.
I really liked the representation for mental health and anxiety issues. I personally have an anxiety disorder and it was nice to see that in a character and see how it impacts their story.
I felt that the character development was a little stunted. I definitely enjoyed the story as a whole, but I realized as I was reading the book that I didn't really know the main characters. Sure, I knew of their families but I didn't really know their personalities. A few things were touched upon in terms of hobbies, but it didn't feel real enough. Sure, Analiese liked going on hikes with her father and Marek liked to work out but those things didn't really define them. And their passion for these things is lost on the reader since they are only seen or mentioned lightly. As to what any of their other hobbies, interests, or passions are, I couldn't say. They didn't feel like blank slates by any means, but they didn't feel as real as they could have.
I am really on the fence about the ending. Things came to a close, but there was so much left open. The ending is structured in such a way that the reader expects a sequel, but I have no idea if there will be one. I have seen no mention of a second book or even that this is going to be a series of books instead of a stand-alone. I feel like this book needs a sequel. Having a sequel would very much benefit this story.
Overall, this is a compelling story with plenty of twists and turns. It has a fascinating take on mythology that will captivate readers. If you are looking for a fast-paced fantasy story with a lot of mystery and a scavenger hunt, then you'll love this book! I so very much hope that there will be a second book to this story!
Brenda Drake grew up the youngest of three children, an Air Force brat, and the continual new kid at school. Her fondest memories growing up is of her eccentric, Irish grandmother's animated tales, which gave her a strong love for storytelling. With kids of all ages populating Brenda's world, it was only fitting that she would choose to write stories with a bend toward the fantastical for both younger readers and the young at heart. And because she married her prince charming, there's always a romance warming the pages. Her favorite books are The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis, Kings Row by Henry Bellamann, and Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. When she's not writing, she hosts workshops and contests for writers such as Pitch Wars and Pitch Madness on her blog, and holds Twitter pitch parties on the hashtag, #PitMad. In her free time, Brenda enjoys hanging out with her family, haunting libraries, bookstores, and coffee shops, or just reading someplace quiet and not at all exotic (much to her disappointment).
Blog Tour Organized By:
My name is Vanessa a.k.a. Queen Alchemy. I am a 30-something-year-old mother of four nerdy, fantastic children. We live in the Midwest. I have a reading addiction, and I hope that I never recover! I'm the hugest nerd you can find with interests not limited to the following: comics (Batman and Captain America for the win!), science, computers, zombies, unicorns, Harry Potter, cartoons from the 80's & 90's, Frankenstein, history, crafting, cooking & baking, Star Wars, digital scrapbooking, D&D, Minecraft, Hello Kitty, horror, metalcore, royalty, tattoos & piercings, bright colors, and so much more!
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